Taxi strike branded 'an empty threat'
Dundee taxi trade officials threatening to strike over a controversial taxi fare increase are not representing all drivers, a rival trade figure has said.
- By Katie Smyth
- Published in the Courier : 09.11.10
- Published online : 09.11.10 @ 06.43pm
Erik Thoresen, chairman of Dundee Hackney Association, hit out at threats made by Dundee Taxi Association chairman Graeme Stephen and Unite union taxi branch secretary Chris Elder.
The threats were made after the licensing committee last week agreed a 20p rise in the initial meter charge from £2.40 to £2.60.
Unite and the DTA had proposed the initial charge be increased to £3, though that would have covered a longer distance.
After consultation with local elderly groups, the committee approved the more moderate 20p increase.
Mr Steven and Mr Elder oppose the lower increase, have called for licensing chairman Rod Wallace to resign and have raised the threat of city taxi drivers going on strike.
However Mr Thoresen accused the DTA and Unite leaders of making empty threats.
"They aren't representing the whole trade," he said.
"It seems ludicrous that they can say this stuff and not explain it to the people of Dundee.
"People we spoke to across the board don't agree with what's been said in the papers.
"My colleagues are saying it's not the total view of people in Dundee.
"The taxi trade is not being ignored as they (Mr Steven and Mr Elder) say, and the majority of taxi drivers won't go on strike."
Unworkable
Mr Thoresen argued that at a time of economic downturn, the proposed increase to £3 initial fare was unworkable.
"The majority of taxi drivers in Dundee don't want £3 on taxis," he said.
"If we do that, it will scare people off using taxis in a recession.
"The taxi trade should look at how it affects them. We want people in our cabs and we don't want to drive them away.
"Chris Elder and Graeme Stephen agreed last year to no increase in the fares and everybody agreed to that in the liaison group."
He added, "I think we should accept the 20p increase just now to £2.60 and liaise with other groups like Age Concern and the council to see the way forward.
"The £3 fare is one of the highest in Scotland. All we are looking for is a national average (to be implemented) in Dundee."
Mr Wallace refused to step down from the licensing committee, saying it had "listened to everyone and tried to be as fair as possible."
Add a comment